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Chennai, the capital city located in Tamil Nadu, Chennai is also a significant business center and a thriving culture center. Before it was changed to Chennai the city began its journey as Madras at the time it was established in 1639 by the English East India Company in 1639. It grew to be one of the major administrative cities within the British Empire and later, a major hub for Tamil politics and culture as well as economics. The present day Chennai may not be appealing to those who are new to the city however, our guide will assist you to learn about its rich culture of dance, music, film, arts and crafts, as well as food.


Great places to visit in this region of India

Geographically,Chennaidivides into three major segments. To the north of the River Cooum stands Fort St George located in one of the first British Outposts situated in India as well as George Town, the commercial city that was developed during the British occupation. George Town's most famous landmark can be found at Parry's Corner, located at the southernmost point of Rajaji Salai. The area that is sandwiched between Cooum as well as the Adyar rivers lies central Chennai which is the modern commercial hub of the metropolis which is served by Chennai's principal avenue, Anna Salai. The east from Anna Salai is the atmospheric old Muslim district in Triplicane and beyond it is The long, straight Marina with its huge beach, fishing vessels and hundreds of local tourists wearing saris and t-shirts while enjoying a leisurely paddle. Further to the south along the coast is the area of Mylapore which was inhabited by the Portuguese in the 1500s and boasts two major sites of pilgrimage and tourist attractions: Kapalishvara Temple and San Thome Cathedral.


Accommodation in Chennai

Finding a cheap hotel in Chennai can be an issue. With a 24-hour check-out system and the varying hours of check-out, it's tough to forecast availability. Some cheap hotels do not accept advance reservations. The positive is that the quality standards at the cheapest hotels are superior to those hotels in more upscale cities. A majority of budget hotels and mid-range ones are located near stations at Egmore and further to the east in Triplicane. The majority of the best hotels are located in the southern part of town, and many offer complimentary shuttle bus services as well from the airport.

Eating in Chennai

Chennai provides a wide range of dining options that you'd expect from a city of this size that range from cheap vegetarian "meals" restaurants to high-end Westernized hotel restaurants, as well as some of the most unique independent restaurants within.

Make sure you don't miss Saravana Bhavan. The renowned South Indian fast-food chain is a cult tradition for those in the Chennai middle class. There are more than 20 branches scattered all over the city, as well as additional locations across the country and abroad. You can try one of their dishes and end with freshly prepared ladoo and the barfi on their counter for sweets.

Getting around Chennai

Chennai's attractions and facilities span an area so vast that it's nearly impossible to travel around without the public transport system. The majority of visitors ride auto-rickshaws. However, outside of peak time, you can get in comfort with a bus or a suburban train. As of the moment we were writing this, the part of the brand new Chennai metro between Koyambedu and Alandur was operational and so was the line that ran from Little Mount to the airport.

Chennai drinking and nightlife

Chennai's club and bar scene has grown in line with disposable earnings of the middle class in Chennai. Triplicane however, is a bit dry, and Egmore does not have much to offer and so the majority of most popular clubs are located in top-of-the-line hotels on the south in the center of town. Expect cover prices, which include the cost of a drink upwards of Rs 1000 per person. Go to whatshot.in/chennai for the most current fashions.

Fort St George

Fort St George is quite unlike any other fort in India. With its view of the sea and office buildings, it appears more like a well-maintained complex of mansions of the colonial era rather than Fort St George. The majority of its structures are now offices and a hub of activity in the week. Fort Madras was the earliest structure in Madras town, and was the first territory by The British of India. The construction began in 1640, but the majority of the first structures were destroyed by French sieges, and rebuilt later in that century. The most impressive structure is the 18th century slate-gray and white built colonnaded Fort House.

The modestly sized Exchange Building is home to the impressive Fort Museum. The museum's collection faithfully documents the major historical events that occurred during the British occupation of Madras by displaying portraits and regimental flags, weapons, East India Company coins, medals, stamps, and woolen outfits that leave you wondering why the Raj was able to last so long.

Fort Museum

This moderately-sized Exchange Building is home to the impressive Fort Museum. The museum's collection is meticulously documented the major historical events that occurred during the British occupation of Madras by displaying portraits and regimental flags, weapons, East India Company coins medals, stamps, medals and woolen uniforms with thick wool that leave you wondering why the Raj was able to last for as long as it did. The first floor is an art gallery, and portraits of the most powerful officers and the wives of their spouses are displayed alongside beautiful drawings of British embarking on Chennai dressed in aristocratic robes with Indians wearing loincloths. There are also prints by the renowned artist Thomas Daniell, whose work greatly influenced British views of India towards the end of the 18th century.

St Mary’s Church

To the south from the Fort Museum, past the State Legislature, stands the oldest Anglican Church within Asia, St Mary's, built in 1678 and partially rebuilt following the 1759 battle. It's uniquely English in design, and is stuffed with statues and plaques to commemorate British soldiers as well as politicians and wives. The most magnificent plaque, constructed out of the finest silver alloy, was given in the presence of Elihu Yale, who was director for the city of Fort St George (1687-96) and the Founder of Yale University. A collection of photos of dignitaries who have visited which includes Queen Elizabeth II can be seen on the front porch.

George Town

North of Fort St George, the British trading center located in George Town remains the focal region for offices, banks, shipping companies, and street vendors. The streets of George Town are an intriguing mix of architecture including nineteenth and eighteenth-century church buildings, Hindu and Jain temples and a plethora of mosques, all surrounded by extravagant mansions. On the eastern side, in Rajaji Salai, the General Post Office is housed in a substantial earth-red Indo-Saracenic structure built in 1884. George Town's southern portion is emphasized by the gauzy white domes and sandstone towers that make up the High Court and the even more lavish Towers at the Law College, both showing the strong Islamic influence.

Government Museum

Chennai Government Museum Chennai Government Museum has some amazing archeological discoveries from south India as well as the Deccan. Within the red circular main building built in 1851, the first gallery is dedicated to geology and archaeology. One of the most notable exhibits are the dismantled panels of railings, statues, and a few other items from the second century AD stupa complex in Amaravati. The exquisitely carved reliefs of marble of the Buddha's life are thought to be among the greatest works of earlier Indian art.

The real treasure of the museum is, however, the modern wing that includes the largest and extensive collection of Chola bronzes. Massive figures of Shiva, Vishnu and Parvati are in the center with glass cases with smaller statues and sculptures, including a number that depict Shiva as Nataraja who is the Lord of dance which is surrounded by a circle of fire. One of the most beautiful examples is Ardhanarishvara which is the androgynous version from Shiva (united together with Shakti to transcend duality). In addition, the stunning Indo-Saracenic art gallery displays the oldest British portraits of people like Clive and Hastings and Rajput as well as Mughal miniatures, as well as an exhibit of small ivory carvings.

Chennai Marina

One of the longest city beaches in the world, The Marina (Kamaraj Salai) is 5 km long from the harbor in the southeast corner of George Town to near San Thome Cathedral. If you go south, you'll pass one of the buildings, Indo-Saracenic Presidency College (1865-71) which is one of the many solid Victorian structures that comprise the University in addition to the nearby Vivekananda House.

Today, the beach is a lively stretch, frequented by lazy horse-riders, picnickers and paddlers Every afternoon, crowds are gathered around the beach's market. However, its position only a short distance away from a port that emits smelly and odorous smoke, in conjunction with its use as a toilet for fishermen can detract from the natural beauty of the beach.


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